Tampa, Florida (CNN) - A large number of Ron Paul supporters marched through the halls of the Tampa Bay Times Forum, site of the Republican convention, protesting what they feel is unfair treatment by organizers against them.

The group, estimated at several hundred, marched through the upper hallways of the site shouting "As Maine goes, so goes the nation" in protest of the Republican National Committee voting not to seat 10 delegates from Maine and replacing them with pro-Mitt Romney ones. Also 10 alternates were not seated.Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker, catch the latest updates from the GOP convention on CNN's 2012 Conventions Live Blog, and check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator to game out your own strategy for November.

The protesting contingent, which included some delegates, some alternate delegates and supporters, marched through the corridor on the level of the forum above the convention floor.

Maine delegate Bernie Johnson, who backed Paul, told CNN it was in protest "of the injustice" done by the RNC.

Some of the participants said the demonstration was spontaneous and was not planned in advance. "It just grew," Johnson said.

The group had come to the site to watch a video tribute to Ron Paul and to hear the speech from his son, Rand. After both were done is when they were getting ready to leave and the protest came about. Once they'd made their presence known the group dispersed.

soundoff(150 Responses)

Just get rid of Ron Paul delegates and replace them with Rmoney ones? Why not just ask for ID and if they produce one, call it a fake and voila, the voting goes your way. Shamefull

August 30, 2012 05:41 am at 5:41 am |

HeWasCheated

He was cheated at the very beginning in IOWA, then it became like a self fullfilling prophecy that he couldn't win. When actually he was the front runner. I really think Dr. Paul should have never ran in the Rep primary, eventhough I know he did so his ideas would be gaurenteed a bigger stage. Most of his supporters will NEVER, NEVER vote for the fake conservative Romney, who was for everything that Obama is for but now against it. And, somehow the fake conservative won? Hmmm?

Dr. Paul should now run as an independant, eventhough I know he will not win cause the media will continue to make he and his supporters look stupid and try to take everything out of context (Just look at the picture for this story, is that really the best pic of a Paul supporter they could get? Doubtful). The media is terrified of a President Paul cause they might actually have to report truth. Dr. Paul has a far better record that "Obomney" could ever have.

Please Dr. Paul, run as a no party candidate so us that will never vote for a Demoncrat or a Rethug will have someone to vote for.

August 30, 2012 05:45 am at 5:45 am |

Bilbo

Uh CNN, how about a little reporting. What allows some committee not to seat elected delegates...a review of the rules please. If they violate their own rules they can be sued.

August 30, 2012 05:48 am at 5:48 am |

HeWasCheated

Can you image Dr. Paul running as an independant and being in between Romney And Obama in those Debates? He would make both those clowns look silly.

August 30, 2012 05:51 am at 5:51 am |

Tim W.

Lets not forget there are other parties in the game....Libertarian and Green parties along with about 10 other parties that we can vote for ! I'm kind of liking the Grassroots party myself ! Do not vote for someone just so you can say you voted for the winner....vote for the best person for the job !

August 30, 2012 05:53 am at 5:53 am |

Ken

History is amazing in the way it repeats itself. For anyone so inclined, do a little research on the 1912 election in which the Republican machine steam-rollered Theodore Roosevelt at their convention in order to nominate William Howard Taft, who in turn lost miserably to Woodrow Wilson, an upstart challenger to a sitting president.

August 30, 2012 05:54 am at 5:54 am |

Phil

Ron Paul lost in the primaries. It is time for his supporters to get over it. Voting for Obama is a vote for higher taxes and bigger government. I am voting for Romney. Even Rand Paul is voting for Romney. Ron paul supporters need to grow up and get over it.

August 30, 2012 05:57 am at 5:57 am |

EyesWideOpen

Wake up Sheeople! Nobody's vote counts Anyway! It's (POTUS), already in the bag for somebody. It's all predetermined by the people who "Really" run this govt. They make us out to be their fools every 4 years. The only good thing, with all this blatent lying, and cheating is, a lot more people's eyes opened up. Too bad we can't get MSM to cover any of It! The Republic is falling, the Republic is Falling!

August 30, 2012 06:01 am at 6:01 am |

Marie MD

Love it! The young eating their elders.

August 30, 2012 06:31 am at 6:31 am |

NATHAN WIMBERLY

The brood of vipers lie AND eat their own. Priceless.

August 30, 2012 06:34 am at 6:34 am |

Anonymous

There is no honesty and democracy with the Republicans. I too am just sickened by how they treat an honest politician. There's no doubt Ron Paul is one of the honest politicians out there and although I cannot fully endorse some of Ron Paul's ideals, it does not justify the GOP can use deceit and really low tactics to cheat him and his delegates out.

This whole fiasco reminds me of the movie Wall Street..... and Romney is no doubt Gordon Gekko, the ruthless and greedy corporate raider.

August 30, 2012 07:02 am at 7:02 am |

Gurgyl

Dr. Paul, I solute you. Don't protest, you know GOP thugs drama–just support Obama since your idealogy is same as that of Obama. Listen, Medicare is socialistic, SS is, etc. don't cry.

August 30, 2012 07:06 am at 7:06 am |

TomInRochNY

Way to go with that unity thing, GOP. Your even alienating your own people.

August 30, 2012 07:23 am at 7:23 am |

End the two parties

I'm Voting for Gary Johnson this fall...no more blue team vs. the red team politics for me.....

Their protests won't do any good, sadly, with a party that is now based on a single extreme right ideology exclusively. That is just the way they roll now...

August 30, 2012 07:39 am at 7:39 am |

noteabags

I agree. Get Ron Paul on the ballot so we can split the con votes 2 ways and make it easier for an Obama victory.

August 30, 2012 07:40 am at 7:40 am |

Amazed

The GOP is a desperate, dying party and it is really beginning to show.....

August 30, 2012 07:43 am at 7:43 am |

Grady

at this point, watching the republican party is like watching a tribe of hungry canibals when there is no 'game' left on the island except themselves.

August 30, 2012 07:46 am at 7:46 am |

Ritt Momney

Voter Fraud in Georgia,Flordia, Primary dates moved ahead in Vermont and Maine, districts not being counted in several other states all contributed to my "win" Thank You Thank You to the hard working people who helped rob votes, register the dead and more importantly keep people thinking im the real pick Thank You!!

August 30, 2012 07:49 am at 7:49 am |

Fred Nerk

Ron Paul is the concious of the GOP. Christie is a fat party-gate crasher. Romney and his wife are phoneys and the whole world can see that. Its a shame that the party I voted for all my year (40) has become a sham. Abe Lincoln would be ashamed to be associated with this bile munching bag of bigots.

August 30, 2012 07:52 am at 7:52 am |

dRandel

We need a third party.

August 30, 2012 07:52 am at 7:52 am |

bill

to all the "put on your big boy pants, he lost....."

How would you feel if your candidate was so blantantly censored and had the rules changed because he actually qualified?

Paul had 7 states. One state was flat out banned from the convention bc they didnt go along with Rmoney's "plan". 6 states passed the red tape requirements and filed the nominating papers on time. When the speaker saw this, he moved for a rule change that meant a candidate needed 8 states to qualify on the spot. When the change was voted on, you can clearly hear that it should no have passed but he steam rolled it in anyway. Paul qualified for his 15 min speech.

He has qualified not to have his name say "others" on the screen and his actually name being unspoken like he was the exiled Moses leaving Egypt.

Did you actually watch the farce??? Did you see the mic go dead when the woman from georgia was reading pauls votes? The guy on camera was caught saying "good job with that mic...ha ha ha..."

If Paul had no chance, why the censoring? Why the outright injustice against what he qualified for? Why ban his delegates if he had no way of winning? Why change the rules so he couldnt have a little 15 min speech?

I'll tell you pompus ppl why....to show "unity in the party". But their isnt unity is there?

We will NEVER vote for Rmoney. We will write Paul in.....even if the vote isnt actually counted. We dont care. Our conscience means more to us than you stupid toe the line.

Do you know why Obama will destroy you? Bc you just alienated atleast 4 million votes.... idiots. Vets, independents, democrats, young people, minorities, women, etc.....all of these that Ron could pull in that your corporate puppet Rmoney cant.

Since rmoney is obama....we will take four more of obama instead of 8 of rmoney.

You just handed the re-electino on a silver platter....enjoy your socialism.....

August 30, 2012 07:55 am at 7:55 am |

Ron Paul's Fake Eyebrows

Enough already with the protests! You know Paul has no chance and yet you still try to bring attention to your cause and him. Pretty selfish.

August 30, 2012 07:55 am at 7:55 am |

Reddog9500

Shame and a pox on the RNC. Their underhanded tactics concerning Ron Paul will NOT be forgotten nor forgiven come November.